What Gear Do I Need For Mountain Biking?
All the essential bits that you need for your first ride.
Mountain bikers love a good bit of kit, and the people making kit for us to buy know this all too well. You can spend £600 on carbon fibre helmets, hundreds on shoes, get trousers fitted with the latest breathable technologies, and glasses that do all kinds of wild things.
We can buy tools that have 40 or more functions and are super lightweight, bottles that attach to the bike with complex magnets, tiny pumps and hidden air canisters that can mend a puncture in a flash- but do we really need any of this?
Is it possible to hop on your bike, and get pedalling with whatever you have to hand? The answer is yes, but with a few additional things to consider.
Let’s take a look at the things you will need in order to get out there and ride. - The Essentials -
- The Helmet -
Helmets are essential- there should never be any question about this. If you’re going for a ride, take your helmet and strap it up correctly. To not do this would be very foolish indeed. Mountain biking is a dangerous sport, so take the necessary precautions and cover your skull! Unfortunately, as with many other mountain bike specific items, mountain bike helmets can be quite expensive, and they are by no means made equal. It can be really difficult to tell which helmets offer better protection than others, and a higher price does not always provide more protection. Fit is also another factor that can vary hugely depending on the size and shape of your head- a helmet that fits your mate perfectly may well sit too high on your head, which is no good. So, if we absolutely have to have a helmet, which one do we need? There is no straight answer to this question, but you can write off the helmets at the most expensive end of the spectrum- as a beginner you won’t be needing to spend this kind of money. But that does not mean you should buy the cheapest one you can find either. Our main advice regarding this element of your kit would be to save money on everything else if you have to, and prioritise your helmet. Give yourself a good budget and don’t be afraid to spend over £100 on the right helmet- this is your brain we’re talking about after all. Thankfully, there are some resources out there that can help us to decipher which helmet offers the absolute best protection. Virginia Tech, a university in America, started to test football helmets for their team and were so diligent and accurate in their tests that they decided to test and rank pretty much all other kinds of helmets too! Check out their list of the very best mountain bike helmets that offer the ultimate protection. - Full Face Vs. Half Shell -
You may come across full face helmets as you search for your perfect option, and you’ll notice two things right away; they look very different, and they can be very expensive.A full face extends down to the bottom of your neck, and covers your chin; It will also have an extended peak and heavy duty strap. They tend to offer a bit more protection, especially for your face which is nice, but they aren’t always the better option. Due to their size, full face helmet may not work for those of us pedalling long distances; they can become hot and uncomfortable quite quickly. They are also very bulky, making transporting them safely more difficult. Most people use a full face in bike parks, and again for larger features, or flat out racing. Most other disciplines stick with the half shell to maximise comfort breathability and protection, but that not to say you couldn't ride a long distance with a full face on. - One and Done -
Remember, whatever helmet you have, they are one and done. If you crash and bang your helmet, replace it for your next ride- its job is done. They are not designed to withstand multiple impacts, so don’t risk it! - SheRides Recommends -
We ALWAYS ride with helmets, and we ensure we have good quality ones. They were the very first things we bought for the sport. We ride full-face for bike parks, and half shells for our regular, every day rides. - Pads and Body Protection -
Next up are pads that cover the elbows and knees, back braces and neck guards. Many riders would never be caught without at least a couple of these options; elbow and knee pads are easily the most common. Unfortunately, they are not common enough and they perform a very important function. They help to cushion the joints from impacts, reduce damage done to key areas of the body and will help to stop damage to skin like cuts and bruises. There are some great options out there that will help you to keep cool on a long ride in the sun, whilst still protecting your knees and elbows from cuts, bangs and scrapes but remember, you will not be crash proof.
If you have a heavy crash these pads can only do so much. You can get more heavy duty options with plastic all kinds of clever technologies integrated within them, but a crash is a crash- it’s going to hurt.Back braces are common in bikeparks and on larger features, but can be uncomfortable and cumbersome for a regular ride. The same goes for a neck brace- or Hans Device to use its official name- which attaches to a full face helmet and sits on your shoulders to stabilise your neck in the event of a big slam. These options would largely be used on fast down hill tracks, large features and in extreme scenarios, but you'll never be worse off for wearing them in other scenarios. - SheRides Recommends -
We always ride with knee and elbow pads as you never know when a crash is lurking around the next corner. We would recommend as much protection as you can get away with when riding somewhere like a bike park. These places tend to encourage fast progression and that can sometimes go hand-in-hand with crashing- better safe than sorry! - Shoes -
Mountain bike specific shoes cause a lot of contention in the bike world. Some love them and would never be without them, others think they are overpriced and not necessary. The truth is, both positions are true, so whatever suits your needs tends to be best. MTB specific shoes will offer tread patterns which are supposed to grip pedals better and still be comfortable to walk in. They will also feature very strong or completely rigid soles that take some of the pressure off your feet when you’re riding, as well as some ankle support for impacts. If you can find a decent pair of shoes to ride in that suit you and are inexpensive, then go for it. The main thing to be sure of is that they are flat soled- soles with supportive lumps and bumps will make things harder for you.If you want some proper MTB shoes then keep an eye out for deals, they don’t have to be super expensive and can make a difference to your riding- particularly if you're experiencing foot pain. - SheRides Recommends -
If you have comfy shoes that you like riding in, don’t worry about MTB shoes. If you’re looking for something more from your shoes, but are budget conscious then try and snag a deal- there are lots of options out there. We ride with MTB shoes now but when we started, we were in cheap trainers. Do what works best for you, don't think too much about what others have. - Clothing -
This is, in our humble opinion, where things spiral out of control price-wise. As soon as a regular item of clothing is anything to do with MTB, the price soars to frankly absurd heights. We have deemed MTB clothing as non-essential to your ride- you can just get out there and ride in whatever you have, if you’re willing to.
MTB clothing can increase comfortability, and in some cases be better than regular clothing, but will pretty much never be the factor that stops you from riding if you don’t have it. - Jerseys & T-shirts -
Riding jerseys and t-shirts are the obvious choice for mountain bikers- that is, until you see the price. Jerseys from bike brands can sell from anywhere between £15 and £100, or more. They are breathable, stretch resistant, made of special scientific material and lots of other sales jargon- but one small crash and your expensive jersey has a nice new hole.
Jerseys and MTB t -shirts are not a bad thing, and we are not suggesting you don’t own a couple- just don’t get suckered in by the sales speak and pay way more than you need too. Buy second hand and hunt for deals, or, simply ride in a regular, breathable t-shirt. - SheRides Recommends -
We ride in lightweight t-shirts, or jerseys that we picked up for great deals- in our minds, there is no need to ride in super expensive, bike specific clothing when for the most part, regular tops will do just fine. - Pants & Shorts -
Annoyingly, the industry uses the Americanism ‘pants instead of trousers’. It is what it is, we’ll move on.
Riding pants or shorts are a little bit of a different story to tops. Due to the way we sit on the bike to pedal, and the amount of movement and work that goes through our legs, ordinary trousers or shorts don’t tend to cut the mustard.
MTB specific pants and shorts are elasticated in the right areas, tough in important high contact spots, and often tear resistant. All of this allows you to remain comfortable during a ride of any length, have a better chance of avoiding tears and rips, and be able to move around as much as you need to during the ride.
If you’re riding through the winter then a good pair of MTB pants will be crucial to your enjoyment, and make things a lot easier. - SheRides Recommends -
MTB specific pants and shorts are the clear choice for mountain bikers of any discipline. They can be expensive, but with a good deal they will make a huge difference to your comfort on a ride. We always use them. - Jackets & Raincoats -
As sportspeople in the UK we are all very familiar with the rain. We know that having at least one waterproof thing will make a big difference to your day. The only issue is, if you buy an MTB specific raincoat you’re looking at a pretty hefty price tag.
There are features of a mountain bike waterproof jacket that will definitely help you in adverse conditions; adjustable elastic straps, special pockets, a hood big enough to accommodate your helmet, and ergonomic designs to maximise waterproofing in a seated position.
However, if you’re looking to save cash as most of us are nowadays, spending hundreds and hundreds of pounds on a coat you’re only going to use a couple of times a week is a pretty needless expense.
Instead, just make sure you have something comfortable and waterproof that won’t interrupt your ride. Then you can layer up underneath and hopefully stay warm and at least a little bit dry. - SheRides Recommends -
If you're in a position to be able to get an MTB specific waterproof; great! Get one and enjoy the benefits. For the most part, a regular waterproof will just fine, there might be some snags and annoyances, but it's better than getting drenched. - Accessories -
This is another area where things can get expensive, but you could argue that many accessories do bring value to your riding. We are going to take a look at the main accessories that we think you will benefit from the most. - Gloves -
The first accessory is yet another thing that splits the MTB community. Some people have never, and will never ride with them, and others are the opposite. You will need gloves if you get cold hands easily, get sweaty hands, or struggle for grip on the bars.
There is a huge range available, in a huge range of price brackets, but luckily for us, there are plenty of cheap and effective options. In fact, plenty of people only ever buy cheap as your gloves are often the very first casualties in a crash. - SheRides Recommends -
Do whatever works best for you; we sometimes ride without, but are mostly fully gloved. - Bottles & Bottle Cages -
Water is a pretty important part of riding, and without a cup holder a bottle and bottle cage are pretty much your main choice. Your cage will attach directly to your frame and comes in a huge variety; ranging from the very basic plastic and metal options, to carbon fibre, steel and magnetic- some even have built in storage for spares and repairs!
The same applies to the bottle that goes in them, there is a huge range available- the main thing to keep an eye for is to ensure your bottle will fit your cage. It's probably worth noting that one of the main things you find trail-side are bottles that have popped out of people's cages due to poor fit or bad luck- don't spend too much on your bottle unless you're certain it won't pop out! - SheRides Recommends -
Pretty much everyone needs water when they ride, so grab a bottle & cage. There is so much on offer, at so many price ranges, it makes total sense to grab a good water set up. - Hip Packs -
Riding with a backpack can be difficult due to the weight being high up your body, not to mention the fact that they can be excessively hot and sweaty- enter the hip pack. Hip packs strap comfortably around your waist and allow you to carry your keys, wallet, phone, snacks, repairs, and any other small items you may need to aid your ride. Some of the newer versions even come with water bladders built in, but pretty much all the options will allow you to stash at least one extra water bottle in the waist strap. - SheRides Recommends -
Hip packs are a great addition to your ride, but they are not an essential one. If you’re on a budget then don’t worry about having one. If you can afford one, then we would recommend grabbing one! Some riders never leave home without their hip pack, some people prefer to do without; all we know is, it's very handy to be able to carry all the extras you need when out on a ride. - Multitools -
It’s everyone’s worst nightmare to have a technical fault whilst on a ride- if you’re poorly equipped you could be looking at a long walk home. Even something minor like a puncture could be trouble. Fortunately, multitools have got us covered. Small and lightweight, they are designed to be packed pretty much anywhere and can solve a multitude of problems. Some have chain tools for separating chain links, some will have tyre levers for fixing pesky punctures, they will all have allen keys and other fixtures that allow for on-trail fixes and there is an incredible amount of options. - SheRides Recommends -
Getting caught out on a ride is no fun, and not all problems are fixable, but having a good multitool greatly reduces your chances of having a long walk home. This is a great piece of kit for every rider to carry, on every ride.- Get Kitted Out & Get Shredding -
So there you have it, the absolute essentials, the things you can do without and the bits you can grab if you have the ability to do so. Remember, you don’t always have to have the coolest kit, the best accessories and the most expensive equipment. Just getting out on the bike and having a great time is the most important thing. If you want to upgrade your gear in the future, then you know you're going to get good use out of it. If you’re new to the sport then just spending time on two wheels is the absolute best thing you can do. 